401K balances jumped in the fourth quarter of 2022, but were down 23 percent for the entire year, due to the ongoing bear market. New data from Fidelity Investments also found that the average individual retirement account balance was down 20 percent to $104,000 in the fourth quarter. Amid this economic uncertainty, the savings rate remained steady at 13.7 percent, down slightly from the 13.8 percent in the third quarter and 13.9 percent in the second quarter.
GOODBYE TO THE SUPER HORNET
Boeing said it will end production of the F/A-18 Super Hornet in 2025. The shutdown will affect a production line near St. Louis, which could power back on if the company wins a contract in India. The Super Hornet is considered the most successful aircraft in the history of the U.S. Navy. The company will redeploy staff to pursue new opportunities, including the T-7 Red Hawk.
DOMINO'S SALES SLUMP
Domino's Pizza missed sales estimates in the fourth quarter, as high delivery fees put a dent in online orders. Same-store delivery sales dropped 6.6 percent after the company raised delivery fees to make up for higher labor and commodity costs. With deliveries making up 60 percent of sales, the drop hit the company hard. Its share price fell 11 percent on Thursday.
NETFLIX LOWERS PRICES
Netflix is lowering its subscription price across the globe. The streaming giant has lowered prices in more than 100 territories, including large parts of the Middle East, South America, and Eastern Europe. The discount varies by area, but some saw 20 to 60 percent decreases for the basic tier membership, according to data from Ampere Analysis shared with TechCrunch.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
Tesla, the car company run by Elon Musk, reported Wednesday that it sold more vehicles in the past three months after boycotts hit hard earlier this year, but profits still fell sharply. Third-quarter earnings fell to $1.4 billion, from $2.2 billion a year earlier. Excluding charges, per share profit of 50 cents came in below analysts' estimate. Tesla shares fell 3.5% in after-hours trading. Musk said the company's robotaxi service, which is available in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, will roll out to as many as 10 other metro areas by the end of the year.
Starbucks’ AI barista aims to speed service and improve experience. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune Business Editor, explains its impact on workers and customers.
As Big Tech reports Q3 earnings, investors await proof that massive AI and cloud investments from Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet are driving real growth.
Eric Trump joins us to discuss American Bitcoin’s mission, market strategy, and why he believes the U.S. must lead the next era of digital currency innovation.
